Roof support for buildings



Nov. 1,.-1932. "r;. R. sT. JOHN ROOF'SPPORT FOR BUILDINGS e sheets-sheetl1 I' Filed Feb. 19, v1929 .WIJ ula- 1lJ L 2. l l l.. l l 11; .a l Il 2.m, 13. l 1 i E r T. Il E E L M ATTORNEY Nov. l, 1932. \x-:.R. s1'.Jol-IN 1,385,781 ROOF SUPPORT FOR BUI LOINGS Filed Feb. ,19. 1929 esheets-sheet 2 'l d, 2d 1f El a m ATTORNEY NOV- l; 1932 E. R. s'r.Jol-1N ROOF SUPORT FOR BUILDINGS Filed Feb. 19. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR mm @ai St' l/hr? BY i l im ATTORNEY ,6 Sheets-Sheet 4 i O .I I

ATTORNEY Nov. l, 1932. E. R. sT. -Jol-1N RooF SUPPORT Fon BUILDINGSFiled Feb. 19, 1929 Nov. fl,v 1932. E.'R. ST. .lOl-INlv Root1 SUPPORTFOR BUILDINGS Filed Feb. 19, '1929 Y' 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORN E Y Nov.l, 1932. E. R. sT. Jol-1N 1,885,731 i L RooF SUPPORT FQR BUILDINGS FiledFeb. 19. 1929 S'Sheets-Sheet 6 ZL@ ATTORNEY Y FatentedfNov. l, 1932mAS'E'US R00@ ST. JOHN', 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

EOF SUPPORT BILDWGS .application ie February 19, wat. Serial Efo.$341,161.

This invention relates to a roof support for buildings, especially theroofs of large build- 'ings in which intermediate posts or columns areundesirable. The object of this invention is to provide a simpleconstruction for supporting the roofs of buildings from cables havingtheir ends anchored to the ground and supported on suitable towers. Afurther object of the invention is to provide means for 1o supportingthe roofs of buildings of this kind in which the cables sag to thenormal equilibrium curve between the towers and are stitilcned lby meansof trusses or girders for preventing undue distortions or oscillationsand I5 supporting the roof.

To these and other ends, the invention consists of certain parts andcombinations of parts, all offwhich will be hereinafter described thenovel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: l F ig. 1 is a cross section of a single aisle buildinghaving a long roof span and constructed according to one embodimentofthe invention;

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View of the structure shown'in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of a structure having a plurality of aislesillustrating another application of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view .of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a polygonal build- -ing illustrating st-illanother application of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a diametrical section ofthe structure shown 1n Fig. 5; A

Fig. 7 illustrates one method of supporting thestiil'ening trusses androof from an I-,bar

cable; i Y Fig. Sis a plan view of an I-bar cable;

Fig. 9 shows a method of securing wire cables to the hangers;

` Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the method of supporting theroofabove the cables;

Fig. 11 is a -.section on the line 11-11;

Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail view of a central hub to v l which the cables of apolygonal building are attached, the view being a section on the line12-12; Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a detail View in sectional elevation showing the centralcable and girder hubs and' the connections between them;

Fig. 14C is a fragmentary plan view with parts in section;

Fig. 15 is a view in elevation showing how the center diagonals of thestiening trusses converge inward to connect to the top chord, ce hub orspider;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of a cable, stiening truss and tower;

Fig. 17 is a cross section of the supporting tower on the line 17-17,Fig. 16; ce Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic plan view .of a polygonal shapedbuilding showing an application of the invention' in which a pair ofcables are secured to each anchor; and 4 Fig. 19 shows an elevation ofthe same.- t@

Although several a plications 4of the invention are illustrate in thedrawings, lthe main features of construction are common to -v all ofthem. It is often desired to construct buildings covering large areas,such as hangars for Zeppelins or aeroplanes,.in which the interior isfree from obstructing posts or pillars. By the present invention it isroposed to suspendthe roof of such a buil ing' from cables-A anchored tothe groundat some 30 distance from the building, supported betweentowers or posts in or adjacent the sides of the building and betweenwhich the roof is carried or suspended.

Figs. 1 and'2 illustrate a single aisle build- 95 ing having a roof l1suspended from a plurality of cables 2, each supported on posts ortowers 3 arranged adjacent the side walls 3*l of the building andprojecting vertically above the walls and anchored at its ends at 4 and5 at. some-distance from opposite sides of the building. The posts ortowers 3 are set on suitable foundations 6 and arranged for slightmovement in the plane of the cable to allow for expansion andcontraction due to temperature or load. changes. The middle l portion ofeach ofthe cables is arranged in reinforcing or Istiilening trusses 7which are supported' on or suspended from the cables by means of hangers8 and on which the roof 300 9 is carried.` The central portion may beprovided with the monitor 10. It will be noted that in this constructionthe cables are arranged above the roof along the sides and pass throughthe roof between the sides and middle of the roof throu h openings-which are closed by wcatherproo covers or hoods 11.

Referring toFigs. 3 and 4, in which is illustrated a constructioninvolving a building having a plurality of aisles, four beingillustrated, the cables 2 are anchored at 5 and tions over the sideaisles being lower than the section over the center aisle and supportedon stiiening trusses 7 suspended from those portions of the cablesbetween the posts 3" and 3 by means of hangers 8. The openings throughwhich the cables enter the roof being closed bv means of weatherproofhoods 11. The stiiiening trusses 7 forthe middle or central roof sectionmay be of a single span arranged-between the posts or towers 3 andengaging the central post 3d and supported on that portion of the cablebetween the posts 3. The middle of the central section is provided witha monitor 10.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 12 to 15Yinclusive, the main cables 2d are arranged radially about a center andanchored to the ground at diametrically opposite points 5. Thisarrangement provides for a many sided building, twelve sides beingshown. Doors or entrances may be provided between eachv adjacent pair ofcables so that -entrance may be Ahad from substantially any direction.vThis form of structure is particularly valuable for Zeppelin hangars.These machines must be landed in aiflirection par' allel Ato thedirection of the wind. Such a construction alw'ays provides one or moreentrances which are normal to thedirection -of the wind. Each of thecables 2d is supported on diametrically arranged posts 3d adjacent or inthe outer wall of the building and all the posts or towers of thebuilding are circumferentially arranged about its center. The girderstifening. trusses 7" may be arranged diametricallynbetween the posts 3Lbeing radially connected with each other at the center and suspendedfrom the main cables 2*. As in the forms shown in Figs. 1`t`o 4, theroof is supported on tliese trusses, and a polygonal monitor 10l *may bearranged over the center. .Y A sim lefmethod for andgir ers at thecenter is shown inFigu'res arranging the cablesf 12 and13. In thisconstruction, a central hub or spider 15 is arran ed at the center andthe main cables are each ormed of two pieces,

one end of each being secured to the hub at diametrically` oppositesides and the other ends being secured to diamctrically opposite groundanchors.

Bythis arrangement allthe cables are maintained in the same plane at thecenter of the building irrespective oftemperature changes or otherstresses. This central hub may be aol or otherwise secured to the hub atdiametrically opposite points around its periphery, one pair beingemployed for each of the main cables 2. To the outer ends of the devicesthe main cables are secured vby means of bolts or otherwise. AlthoughI-bar cables are illust-rated in the drawings, it will be understoodthat other forms of cables, as, wire cables can be connected to thecentral hub without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.v f

The s'tiffening trusses 7d are supported on' the cables, as previouslydescribed and may also be connected to the hub 15 by any suitable means..In the construction illustrated, the

`inner ends of the horizontal truss chords or girders are provided withconnecting plates 17 which are bolted or otherwise secured to.

the shackles 16 mounted on'the hub. By this yconstruction the hub orspider serves as a common center 'link for allof the cables and also asa commoneonnecting member or center panel for the lower horizontal4chords of the stilening trusses. In Athe construction illustrated thediagonal tru/ss members 18 and 19 are suitably secured to the gussetplates 17 as by rivets and `theinwardly inclined truss members 18' aresecured at their upper ends to downwardly depending flanges 20 of acentral truss hub 21.- The hub 21 is provided with horizontal flanges 22to which are secured the upper girders or top chords 23 of the truss. Itwill be apparent that the hub 21 vis substantially concentric `with thespider 15,v

arranged vertically above the same, and is connected thereto by means ofa rod 24 passing throughcentral o enings in said hubs and having meansfor Xing the hub against longitudinal movement thereon. This serves torelieve theA connection between the cables 2.' and the lower spider 15from strains or stresses tending lto. distort them. The sides of theinclined truss members l18 converge toward. the center as clearly shownin Fig.

15. The truss members 19 incline upwardly and outwardly from the` gussetplates 17 and at their upper ends are secured to sset plates 24 securedto the uppertop chor truss `neuerer member 23, and to which the upperends of vertical truss members 25 are also secured. The lower ends ofthe vertical members are A connected to the lower horizontal trussinemconstruction secured to and supported on the main cables all ofwhich are maintained sub- -an upright stantially the saine horizontalplane at the center. v

in li'igs. l to il inclusive'tberc is shown in detail a simple methodfor supporting or suspending the truss and root on the main cables.Referring to lifr. l, a hanger 8 is shown pivotally suspended from themain cable 2, an l-bar cable being sliown although it can readily besuspended on a wire cable by means of a clamp 2'? as shown in Fig. 9;and at its loiver'end is pivotally connected with the upper chord 23 ofthe truss. Owing to teinperature chances, the lengths oi the cables andtruss bars are not constant and the pivotal connections of tbe hangersallows tlieni to swing roin'tbe vertical to compensate for such changes.ln assemblingr there may be slight variations in tbe distances betweenthe cable and the truss and to allow for these variations.. sleeve nuts28 are provided -on the hangers 8 for inalcing slight adiustments in thelengths thereof. l? l() 'shows a similar construction in which tbe issupported above the main cable ln this construction 29 rises from theupper chord 23 of ie truss to a point above the main cable where tberoei is supported. v lie hangers may be mounted within tbe shalt, asshown, provision made Jlor relative vern tical movement between 'thecable and tbev shaft as shown in Fig. il.

ln Figs. "i6 and 17 there is shown a post el for sustaining the sidewalls independently ,ot the roof supporting tower 32. The roof fourcolumns 33 suitably braced to each other..

ln i8 and lgftliere is shown a Zeppelin hangar illustrating oneapplication oli the invention. ln this construction two main cables 35and 36 are secured to each ground anchor and extend over a pair otconnected supporting towers to a central hub or spider and between theadjacent towers are provided doorsY or entrances 37. A tower 38 risesfrom the center of the roof providing a con- Vtions for search lights.

venient observation tower, radio room and support for a'beacon light.Guide lights are mounted on the anchors cud the-tops of the supportingtowers provide convenient Itwill be noted that this invention providesan economical and eicient method for of one or more aisles by means ofcables having their ends anchored at convenient distances from the sidesof the building and supported von intermediate towers or postsconveniently arranged in the sides of the building. These cables beingreinforced or stid'ened against vibrations or distortions by means ofsuitable rigid trusses or girders. A structure is thus provided whichmay have comparatively long and wide aisles en# tirely free from suchobstructions, as posts, braces or other roof supporting devices.

c lt will also be noted that this invention. pro! vides an economicaland comparatively simple construction for buildings of polygonal form.having many sides, such as l'iexagonal,v oc l tagonal, etc., coveringcomparatively largeareas and free .from internal obstructions. lrn suchstructures, the cables extend radially trom the center over the cablesupports to the ground anchors arranged circurntereu tiallj,1 about thecenter and in pairs, tbe num bers of eacli pair being arrangeddiemetiicalu ly opposite' each other', the stitiening trusses on whichthe roof is supported being" formed asa unit girders and arranged withincircle of cable supporting towers.

What l claim. as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. l root supporttor buildings comprising in combination a cableanchored at its opn posits endss spaced uprigits on wliicli tbe cable.is hun@s a continuous rigid truss conn nectingI supports 'lorstiillening tbe cable7 hangers vconnested to tbe cable and truss atfrequent intervals9 and upright struts supported on the cable bange-rsto support a root framing and a root over certain portions ci tbe cable.

Quill. root support for buildings comprising `in combination a series edparallel cables anchored their opposite ends. spaced uprights on whichtbe cables are hung, continuons rigid trusses arranged between each pairof upriglits for stidening the cables and anvers connected to tbe cablesand trusses at frequent int rvals, aud upright struts supported on tberigid trusses but unconnected to the cables or to the hangers to supporte. roof framing and a roof over certain portions of the cables and overcertainV of tbe spaced upright 3. A. ruoli.2 support for buildingscomprising in combination a series of parallel cables anchored theiropposite ends, at least three spaced uprigbts on wliicb each cable ishung, a continuous rigid truss arranged between each'pair ot spaceduprights for sti dening the cables, hangers spaced at frequent intervalsand connected. to the cables and trusses, and upright struts supportedon the rigid trusses but unconnected'to the cables or to the hangers tosupport a roof framing and a roof above lill certain portions of thecables and over certain of the spaced uprights.

4. A roof support for circular and polygonal shaped buildings comprisinga central spider, cables haring their inner ends secured to the spiderin a single plane and radiating therefrom, pairs of diametrically spaceduprights on which the cables are hung, and continuous rigid trussesarranged between each pairof diametrically spaced uprights and havingtheir bottom chords divided into two parts each connected to the spiderin the plane of the inner ends of the cables.

` spider in a single plane, cables radiating from the spider and securedat their inner ends by the bolts, pairs of diametrically spaced uprightson which the cables are hung, and continuous rigid trusses each arrangedbetween a pair olf-uprights and having its bottom chord divided into twoparts each secured to a horizontal bolt securing the inner end of one ofthe cables.

7. A roof support'for circular and polygonal shaped buildings comprisinga central spider, shackles, vertical bolts connecting the shackles tothe spider in radiating relation in the same horizontal plane,horizontal bolts carried by the shackles in the same horizontal plane,radiating cables having their inner ends secured to the horizontalbolts, uprights`V arranged in pairs and each having one of the cableshung therefrom, and continuous rigid trusses arranged between each pairof diametrically spaced uprights and having their bottom chords dividedinto two parts'each connected to one of the horizontal bolts.

8. A roof support for circular and polygonal shaped buildings comprisinga central spider formed of a plurality of superimposed plates, shackles,vertical bolts passing through the plates and 'the shackles and securingthe latter to the plates in the same plane, horizontal bolts carried bythe shackles, radiating cables having their inner ends secured to thehorizontal bolts, uprights ar- 9. A roof support comprising a, centralspider, horizontal ins supported by' the spider in the same horizontalplane, cables secured to the pins and radiating from the spider,uprights arranged in diametric pairs and supporting the cables, rigidtrusses each connecting the members of a pair of uprights and having itsbottom chord formed of two parts each connected t`o one of thehorizontal pins, an upper spider supported in rigid relation to thelirst mentioned spider and having the upper chords of the trussesrigidly secured thereto, and braces extending from the upper spider tothe horizontal pins of the lower spider.

ERASTUS ROOT ST. JOHN.

ranged in diametric pairs and each having one of the radiating cableshung therefrom, and Acontinuous rigid trusses each .arranged between apair of uprights and having its bottom chord divided intotwo parts, eachofwhich is connected to one of the horizontal bolts.

